| The genus Tetrao is now composed of thirteen species, three
Lagopodes, two Bonasise, and eight typical Tetraones. This enumeration
does not include the Tetrao rupestris, which we do not
consider well established, any more than the new species of Mr.
Brehm. The species of Lagopus, as might he inferred from their
inhabiting high northern latitudes, are common to both continents,
with the exception of the Red Grous, T . scoticus, which, is peculiar
to ,the British islands, and which, from its not changing the
cqlours of. its p lum ap with the seasons, may. be considered as
forming the passage to the true Tetraones. Of these-there are fi-vse
in North America, each and all distinct from the three European.
Of the two Bonasise, one is peculiar to the. -old, , and the other to
the new continent, the former having sixteen, the latter eighteen
feathers to the tail. -Thus the entire number is seven in Europe,
while itiis eight in North. America. Setting aside the two common
to both, and the respective Bonasise, we may conaideR^e Godk of
the Woods of Europe, as the parallel of the Cock of the Plains of
America. The Black Grous, T. tetrix, will find its equivalent
in. the Dusky Grous, T . obscurus; but the T . hybridus has no
representative in America, any more than the T: scoticus. HfigraSg
howeyer are more than replaced as to number, by^ the T.
phasianellus, T. cupido, and. T. canadensis, a llAm e ric an tJPeies
which have none correspondingAo them in the nM'
Perhaps no other naturalist has personally, inspected all the
known species- of this genus of both continents, and having
examined numerous , specimens even of some of the rarest, and
possessing all- but one in my own collection, n^y advantages are
peculiar for giving a monography of this interesting genus. Such a
work it is my intention hereafter to publish, illustrated with trip
host figures, and. accompanied with further details respecting their
habits^ ha the mean time I shall merely state, that being replaced
in Africa by Pterocles, and in South. America by Tinamus, all the
known species of Grouse krê fouiïd ih!NÓrah'Ame‘ricU or in Europe,
ïmrTlür&p'ean dlso. iifhabixiifg Asia; -from whosë^levated' central
arid nórthferri^regi‘oris, yet unexplored, ma^'bve%^pf’ctëd any new
Speciès still remain to b é -discovered. ' The extensive "wilds
ofNorth America may m-sOTurnish miore, though We clé nbl^thmk
/d;'*for sihcè 'wê %ave^o ^ dm e acquaintéd with Botli icxe's óf the
Dusky^ïrTöus ? and' tne' Uhckftb f *' the Plains, 'Vc fiave^been able
to refer’ ^ tiS fa e to ra j "tóf known species'1 all ’ 'thieve ’Of which any
ifidications occur in the accounts 'óf trav e lled ”in this country-.' ^
North'America' is ^e’xTeedfed'‘ hp^riö^OTmry in the -beauty,
numhèh, and valuable' ^ualitieV ÓP%er ’'GfÓhsb1f and' she*5 is even
perhaps superior to all o'thers in theSe reSpects1 Mrice thediscd'very
*or'triè> Uack 'of' the-- Plains. ■ Although?" the bareful aha atecurarte
re'sehrehe's of Wilson had led him to the belief that' thëre^Ixisted
hut tWo ’spëeieS'éf 'Groüse lit th ^ té rrito ry óf the' Uriit^d* ’States,
-nodeSlrthan six aferidw known to inhabit within thèir'boundariefv
But 'are not aware that any of the subgeimt: Tagopüs ev$r
entert** the I 'confine's bf the- Uriion^notwithstanding the priins we
have'taken JtOfobtain information ‘ on’ this point from the high
ridrthern districts w Maine and Mibhigan, in which, *if any Vhere,"
they are "hridst likely vto be discovered. Tt would'however be
very*extraordinary if these birds, Which5 are found in thè Alps of
sS itierlah d , Should riot alèo inhabit the lofty rringes1 of the Rocky
Mountains, 'which are known to be IMéT resort*' of**thö' various
speci* OPGrorise. With the exfeêpibion “ therefore óf * th e ! well
knowri Tetrao umbellus, 'whichfbêlöngs to Bonasia, all Yhe others
are true Grouse, ■ Tetraones.1 ;’5 ■ ■
' The Spotted,’ and' the tSharp-tailédf Gróüsb/'^ure long^siiice
known SjS inhabitants’^« that part of‘Anibrlca riorth of” the Uriitea
States; but the two Others are newly "added, not orily to Our Fauna,
but to1 the General System, bèing found for the first tiirie 'in the
American territory and not elsewhere. For1 the hisib ry n f the